Italian Pasta Sauce

Name: Italian Pasta Sauce
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 2 h 30 min
Total time: 2 h 55 min
Yield: 20 servings.
Cuisine: Asian Appetizers, Asian Dinners, Indian Recipes
Ingredients: 4 pounds ground beef; 1 pound bulk Italian sausage; 1 large onion, finely chopped; 3 celery ribs, finely chopped; 4 garlic cloves, minced; 2 tablespoons olive oil; 3 cans (28 ounces each) crushed tomatoes in puree; 3 cans (6 ounces each) tomato paste; 3 cups chicken or beef broth; 1 pound fresh mushrooms, sliced; 3/4 cup minced fresh parsley; 1 tablespoon sugar; 2 to 3 teaspoons salt; 1/2 teaspoon pepper; 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice, optional; Hot cooked pasta

As a special part of their wedding buffet, my daughter Kris' husband fixed a big batch of this thick flavorful pasta sauce. The recipe was brought by his grandmother from Italy more than 80 years ago. —Judy Braun, Juneau, Wisconsin

Ingredients

4 pounds ground beef
1 pound bulk Italian sausage
1 large onion, finely chopped
3 celery ribs, finely chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 cans (28 ounces each) crushed tomatoes in puree
3 cans (6 ounces each) tomato paste
3 cups chicken or beef broth
1 pound fresh mushrooms, sliced
3/4 cup minced fresh parsley
1 tablespoon sugar
2 to 3 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice, optional
Hot cooked pasta

Directions

In a Dutch oven or soup kettle, cook beef in 2 batches over medium heat until no longer pink; drain and set aside. Cook sausage over medium heat until no longer pink; drain and set aside. In the same pan, saute onion, celery and garlic in oil until vegetables are tender.
Return the beef and sausage to the pan. Add the next 9 ingredients, including allspice if desired, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer until sauce reaches desired thickness, stirring occasionally, 2-3 hours. Serve over pasta.
Freeze option: Freeze cooled sauce in freezer containers. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Heat through in a saucepan, stirring occasionally. Add a little broth or water if necessary.